New Ulm weekly review., 1887-02-16


that Bah has taken fancies into her head
about her."
And, half murmuring his thoughts
aloud, he proceeded to answer two or
three business letters which had ar
rived during the day. One of them
necessitated reference to some old pa
pers, and, taking a key from his pocket,
he unlocked the side drawer of his table
and began to look for the documents he
required.
So absorbed was he in his search, or
the subject that caused it, that for the
time Madge Craigie and the trouble
with Cousin Barbara was forgotten.
It was not till a light hand was laid
on his shoulder and a ripping laugh
fell on his ear that he looked up from
the open drawer into the sweet face of
the lady who had bewitched him.
"Is this what you call meeting me by
the garden gate and bringing me in to tea
with Cousin Bah? Look you, sir. I
have mind to be very angry"
Not with me tonight, sweet lady. I
have had much to trouble and vex me
"a letter here which gives me endless
worry. Beside, Cousin Bah has gone
to bed-she is not we'll"
"Gone to bed! Oh, then, I ought
not to have come, I suppose"
"Since you are here, however, you
will not go. Let us chat together for a
little; later on I will see you home"
And he rolled an easy chair to where
she stood and invited her to sink down
into it's softness, for Trevor Lane was
a sybarite in his home. Madge Craigie
obeyed him, and, tossing her straw hat
from her head to the ground. lay back
among soft cushions golden, wavy
hair and white skin forming striking
contrast to their crimson hue.
For moment or two he sat and gazed
at her in mute admiration, till her mer-
ry laugh recalled him to himself
"One would think that I am picture
"a lovely picture" she said, instead
Of"
$50 you are picture-a lovely pic
ture-the embodiment of my perfect
ideal. Say, Madge, beautiful Madge,
will you be my own, my wife, my very
true, devoted, loving wife,"
She looked into his eyes, still laugh
ing. >
q. "Dear me, what an amount of truth
and devotion and tenderness you seem
to require. And pray may I ask how
much you intend to give in return ?'
MY thoughts by day, my dreams by
nlght-everything I have shall be yours
if only you will consent. My dearest
Madge, do not keep me in suspense, but
tell me-" --.
''Stop your raphsodies, foolish, man!
Believe me, I am not worth them. I'll
acknowledge, however, that I am rather
fond of you, perhaps on account of the
spontanelty there is about you. Hope
it will last, though-there, don't gush
again. I believe you'll try and be true
to me, and'-with more seriousness of
manner-''I will never be false to you :"
He tried to take her in his arms but
she repulsed him gently, bidding HIM
be rational and discuss their future
prospects calmly, and so, for awhile,
they did, no illusion being made to
Cousin Barbara, or the part she was
likely to play in their lives.
On sudden Madge's eye fell on the
open drawer.
'Wilfrid Lane!" she exclaimed point
ing to some papers on which that name
was written. "Wilfrid Lane? is he a
relation Of yours? How odd T should
never have thought of that before"
'Why? Do you know him?
sI know Wilfrid Lane! As we'll as
though lie were my own brother"
"How strange! He is my half
brother"
eyes, he is much older than you are.
When did you see him last?
II have not seen him for seven
years "
"Ah! OF course; he is always abroad.
But you go abroad sometimes; why not
to see your brother %
"There have been family differences,
Madge.'
"Oh! It will be awkward when we
are married if may never see Wilfred.
wonder what he will say when he
hears that I am going to marry YOU"
A sort of shiver passed over Trevor
Lane.
"My brother Wilfred is scarcely the
sort of man with whom I should care
for my wife to be on intimate terms, I" he
said.
ooh, yes, I know lie is vaurien, but
that can't hurt me, and he is very anus
ing. Quite treat to see his dear old
handwriting in your drawer"
He ruined Cousin Barbara-thats
why she is here persisted Trevor.
Every likely. He ruined my father
and my father ruined him; that's why I
am poor. Yet I owe him no grudge.
Trevor; why should you?" and once
more she looked into his eyes with that
strange mesmeric power she had, which
set every nerve in his boby vibrating
And from talk Of Wilfred Lane they
drifted back once more to themselves
and their own affairs, murmuring to-
gether softly in the light Of the pale
moon, which had risen and cast magic
spell over the scene; broken at last,
however, by a little scream from Madge.
"What is it? / heard something
moving. Is it bogey or Cousin Bah ?"
'sCousin Bab!" And Trever, indig-
Dol =